System for removing a stem from fruit

Abstract

A system for removing a stem from fruit more quickly and safely than conventional stem removing systems. The system for removing a stem from fruit includes a head member for separating the stem from the fruit and a stand for holding the head member above a surface. The head member includes a base plate, a back plate and a pair of lateral side plates coupled together. The base plate includes at least one hole extending through an upper and lower surface of the base plate and at least one cutting portion formed over the hole. The back plate is removably coupled to the stand. The fruit is removably engaged in the cutting portion such that the fruit stem is removed from the fruit.

I claim:  
     
       1. A system for removing a stem from fruit, said system comprising: 
       a head member for separating the stem from the fruit, said head member having a base plate, a back plate and a pair of lateral side plates coupled together, said base plate having at least one hole extending through an upper and lower surface of said base plate, said base plate having at least one cutting portion formed thereon;  
       wherein said cutting portion extends from said upper surface of said base plate and across said hole in said base plate and has a generally arcuate shape, an edge of each of said cutting portions defining an opening extending through said hole in said base plate, and  
       wherein the fruit stem is removably engaged in said cutting portion.  
     
     
       2. The system for removing a stem of  claim 1 , additionally including a stand for supporting said head member above a surface, said stand including a pair of foot portions and a connecting portion for connecting each of said foot portions together, said back plate being removably coupled to said connecting portion. 
     
     
       3. The system for removing a stem of  claim 2 , wherein said back plate has a pair of folded portions formed thereon, each of said folded portions extending from said base plate toward an end of said back plate, an edge of each of said folded portions defines a channel extending therein, said connecting portion being removably inserted in each of said channels. 
     
     
       4. The system for removing a stem of  claim 1 , wherein said back plate has a hole extending therethrough, said hole being positioned generally adjacent to said base plate. 
     
     
       5. The system for removing a stem of  claim 1 , wherein said base plate has a plurality of guide rail portions formed thereon and extending between said back plate and a front portion of a perimeter edge of said base plate. 
     
     
       6. The system for removing a stem of  claim 1 , additionally including a cart for carrying the fruit, said cart having a body portion, a pair of front leg portions, a rear leg portion, a neck portion and a pair of support portions for supporting said rear leg portion, said head member being removably mounted on said neck portion. 
     
     
       7. The system for removing a stem of  claim 5 , wherein each of said guide rail portions extends from said upper surface of said base plate and extends a height of each of said guide rails tapering from said back plate toward said front portion of said perimeter edge. 
     
     
       8. The system for removing a stem of  claim 7 , wherein each of a lateral pair of said guide rail portions is positioned generally adjacent to one of said lateral side plates of said head member, said cutting portion being positioned generally between said lateral pair of guide rails. 
     
     
       9. The system for removing a stem of  claim 2 , wherein each of said foot portions has a pair of opposite ends, each of said foot portions being orientated generally parallel to each other, wherein said connecting portion has a pair of opposite ends, each of said ends of said connecting portion being mounted on one of said foot portions. 
     
     
       10. The system for removing a stem of  claim 9 , wherein said connecting portion has a pair of bends, each of said bends being removably inserted in one of said channels of said folded portions of said back plate. 
     
     
       11. The system for removing a stem of  claim 6 , additionally including a handle portion extending from a second end rod of said body portion, said handle portion having a generally arcuate shape. 
     
     
       12. The system for removing a stem of  claim 6 , wherein said body portion has a pair of lateral rods and a pair of end rods, each of said end rods extending between an end of each of said lateral rods such that said body portion has a generally rectangular shape. 
     
     
       13. The system for removing a stem of  claim 12 , wherein each of said front leg portions extends from one of said lateral rods, each of said front leg portions is positioned generally adjacent to a first of said end rods. 
     
     
       14. The system for removing a stem of  claim 13 , wherein said rear leg portion extends from a second of said end rods, each of said leg portions having a generally arcuate shape. 
     
     
       15. The system for removing a stem of  claim 14 , additionally including a wheel being mounted on said rear leg portion for moving said cart. 
     
     
       16. The system for removing a stem of  claim 8 , wherein said base plate has a pair of holes extending through an upper and lower surface of said base plate, said base plate having a pair of cutting portions formed thereon and positioned over each of said holes, a central guide rail of said guide rail portions is positioned generally between each of said cutting portions. 
     
     
       17. The system for removing a stem of  claim 15 , wherein said pair of support portions is coupled to and extends between said rear leg portion and each of said lateral rods of said body portion. 
     
     
       18. The system for removing a stem of  claim 15 , wherein said neck portion extends from said first end rod, said neck portion having a generally arcuate shape. 
     
     
       19. A system for removing a stem from a fruit, said system comprising: 
       a head member for separating the stem from the fruit, said head member having a base plate, a back plate and a pair of lateral side plates, said back and lateral side plates extending substantially perpendicular from said base plate, said base plate having a pair of holes extending through an upper and lower surface of said base plate, said back plate having a pair of folded portions formed thereon, each of said folded portions extending from said base plate toward an end of said back plate, an edge of each of said folded portions defining a channel extending therein, said back plate having a hole extending therethrough, said hole being positioned generally adjacent to said base wall, said base plate having a pair of cutting portions and a plurality of guide rail portions formed thereon, a width of each of said lateral side plates tapering from said back plate toward a front portion of said perimeter edge of said base plate;  
       wherein each of said cutting portions extends from said upper surface of said base plate, each of said cutting portions extending across one of said holes in said base plate, each of said cutting portions having a generally arcuate shape, an edge of each of said cutting portions defining an opening through said base plate;  
       wherein each of said guide rail portions extends from said upper surface of said base plate and extends between said back plate and said front portion of said perimeter edge, a height of each of said guide rails tapering from said back plate toward said front portion of said perimeter edge, each of a lateral pair of said guide rail portions being positioned generally adjacent to one of said lateral side plates of said head member, a central guide rail of said guide rail portions is positioned generally between each of said cutting portions;  
       a stand for supporting said head member above a surface, said stand including a pair of foot portions and a connecting portion for connecting each of said foot portions together;  
       wherein each of said foot portions has a pair of opposite ends, each of said foot portions being orientated generally parallel to each other;  
       wherein said connecting portion has a pair of opposite ends, each of said ends of said connecting portion being mounted on one of said foot portions, each of said ends of said connecting portion being positioned generally an equal distance from each of said ends of said foot portion, said connecting portion having a pair of bends, wherein said connecting portion is removably inserted in each of said channels of said folded portions; and  
       wherein the fruit is held so that the stem is facing the base plate, a user guides the stem toward the edge of the cutting portion wherein the cutting portion removes the stem from the fruit;  
       a cart for carrying the fruit, said cart having a body portion, a pair of front leg portions, a rear leg portion, a neck portion and a handle portion, a wheel being rotatably mounted on said rear leg portion and a pair of support portions for supporting said rear leg portion;  
       wherein said body portion has a pair of lateral rods and a pair of end rods, each of said end rods extending between an end of each of said lateral rods such that said body portion has a generally rectangular shape;  
       wherein each of said front leg portions extends from one of said lateral rods, each of said front leg portions is positioned generally adjacent to a first of said end rods;  
       wherein said rear leg portion extends from a second of said end rods, each of said leg portions having a generally arcuate shape, said wheel being mounted on said rear leg portion;  
       wherein said handle portion extends from second end rod, said handle portion being positioned an equal distance from said lateral rods, said handle portion having a generally arcuate shape;  
       wherein said pair of support portions is coupled to and extends between said rear leg portion and each of said lateral rods of said body portion, a long axis of each of said support portions intersecting a long axis of said lateral side rods and said rear leg portion; and  
       wherein said neck portion extends from said first end rod, said neck portion having a generally arcuate shape, said head member being removably mounted on said neck portion, an end of said neck portion being removably inserted in each of said channels of said folded portion of said head member.